Prom is a benchmark in the high school experience. Every student has a different outlook on what they want to get out of the event, and their different influences create the unique experience described through movies, songs, and word of mouth. There is so much that the students and teachers do behind the scenes that creates the night they will remember forever.

“We started planning for Prom in early February,” said Lucy Whorton, junior student council president.

Some students choose to run for prom royalty and pour their time into improving their chances of winning the crown. Others focus on their Instagram photos; from buying the perfect prom dress to finding the perfect venue, prom photo ops take dedication. Still, other students simply focus on how to get the most out of pre- and post-prom activities. Even if they don’t go to the dance themselves, the opportunity to dress up is appealing.

“I started getting ready at 1:00 PM that day…it was a long process,” said Jocelyn Cuello, junior prom attendee.

The most common pre-prom activity is a photo shoot, where friends get together for group photos, typically attending the dance together later that night. Others skip the dance altogether and just take photos.

“I’m going to McGregor to take pictures, and then I’m going to get dinner with my friends,” said Bella Koi, a junior who didn’t go to prom. “I would’ve gone to prom if the tickets weren’t $50.”

Prom season affects students, whether they are prom fans or not. From flyers around the school, to the daily announcement, none can deny the tireless work that Student Council puts into creating an unforgettable experience. Whorton and the rest of the juniors in Student Council are the main people planning prom. They work extremely hard to pick the best theme to make prom perfect and stay within the budget. 

“The thing with Vegas is it’s kind of close to sometimes casinos, and we didn’t want that to overlap at all. So there was a lot of trial and error,” said Whorton.

From navigating a tricky theme to organizing the party’s floorplan, planning for prom takes a very long time, which is why the student council has been planning since February. This year, the student council chose to do a “Night in Vegas” theme that included different games for the students to play. From picking the theme to picking the menu, there’s a lot the student council does that most people don’t see. 

“It’s important to know what you’re doing, what you might need, and plan for the worst so you can plan to succeed,” said Braxton Whitaker, student body president. 

The juniors worked tirelessly to create and set up all of the decorations for prom. They have groups that plan different parts, like the tables, social media posts and advertising. Then the day before prom, when the Juniors only have a limited amount of time to set up, it can be pretty stressful. 

“This is the first big task that they have in student council that they are solely responsible for as a class,” said Emily Lassiter, math teacher and student council advisor.